Is Professionalism something we should expect from leaders?

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:04:02 -0500

Response by Alan K. made Jan 5 at 2017 8:06 AM

Alan K. — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:06:58 -0500

I think the PC angle is getting old......Professionalism is in the eye of the beholder. Twitter has served him well and bypassed the media....Great job

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Jan 5 at 2017 8:13 AM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:13:13 -0500

I don't think the key is so much what we should "expect" more rather what should we "do" when our elected officials do not meet the standards we have elected them to meet. In Governor Grey Davis' case, he was elected, failed to provide, and was removed that very year. And by his own people too! Democrats removed a democrat.

The tools to do this are there and exist within our constitutional framework. The problem is getting Joe and Jane sixpack to get off their lazy ass, turn off the kardashians and actually do their job.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 5 at 2017 8:30 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:30:58 -0500

We knowingly elected a clown just for shock value and shits and giggles. I don't think anyone suddenly expects him to magically grow up and stop being a clown. We may not have the leadership we need, but we have the leadership we deserve...

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Jan 5 at 2017 9:02 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:02:41 -0500

MAJ Bryan Zeski like the question and have pondered this answer for a few weeks. My issue with this is on the surface we should be- but when do we take the gloves off when the other side is not? Low information peeps normally believe the first thing said and if you are always taking the high road and not responding or responding professionally (which usually takes the zing out of it) you sound weak. I am not designating a side on this as they both are guilty. This is also nothing new and you can go back to the beginning of anyone wanting to be in charge so it is not only our society that is this way. DJT capitalizes on sensationalism and calls it immediately. Right or wrong he captures the emotion directly and in the moment when it is fresh in everyone's mind.

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Jan 5 at 2017 9:13 AM

CPT Mark Gonzalez — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:13:22 -0500

I find his remarks to be respectful and his results to be even better. Results speak for themselves and I dont think anyone is complaining when they look in their 401k's since election night. The American dollar is crushing and companies are reinvesting in a pro-growth economy, because of remarks and tweets by an unorthodox leader. Everyone can call him whatever they want, but he is good for business and one can look at consumer confidence if there is any doubt.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Jan 5 at 2017 9:23 AM

PO1 Don Gulizia — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:23:10 -0500

While there is a lot of dumb stuff that Trump says, the “name calling” is something I appreciate. When did our elected officials be heralded as royalty that are untouchable? Many of them are corrupt scoundrels, it’s about time someone called them out. Doesn’t Ted Cruz lie? (Lyin’ Ted) Isn’t Hillary corrupt? (Crooked Hillary) Isn’t Bernie a little crazy? (Crazy Bernie) Do we have to handle these people gently when they make $174K for 111 days of work? I’m more concerned about his other vocabulary choices…bigly, huge, etc. Professionalism is more than words, its actions…and politicians from both sides of the aisle haven’t acted professionally in a long time.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jan 5 at 2017 9:25 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:25:39 -0500

Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

This is exactly what Trump is doing. He's had a lifetime of observing the social niceties and banquet dinners. He's shaken hands with heads of state and celebrity royalty. He's sat there and listened to the lip service promises and do nothing actions.

So now he is killing everyone. He is destroying the public perceptions of the mainstream media. He is destroying the public perceptions of the governing bodies. He's showed the public what the top priority of the political parties were when both the DNC and the RNC tried to sabotage his campaign.

People like to criticize his use of Twitter to speak to the general public. But how much would the media twist and edit his words if he held a "professional" press conference...

He may be rough around the edges, but what do you expect from a guy that just spent the past year getting smeared and dragged through the mud by his own political party.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jan 5 at 2017 9:31 AM

MSgt James Mullis — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:31:30 -0500

I want positive results not Political Correctness.

Response by SFC George Smith made Jan 5 at 2017 9:42 AM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:42:44 -0500

Some thing the Professionalism may be the only thing holding a Unit together or maintaining respect for the office or Position... If that makes since...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2017 10:04 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:04:21 -0500

if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck... Trump is definitely not the polished diplomat that has traditionally occupied the Oval Office, part of the reason he was elected. I am sure that his choice of words is going to ruffle feathers from some special snowflakes for quite awhile.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Jan 5 at 2017 10:27 AM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:27:20 -0500

To answer your question, yes, we should and I don't care for that rhetoric by Trump. Never have. However, you should post the same question to the President's Vice who is notorious for insults and f-bombs.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Jan 5 at 2017 11:54 AM

MSgt George Cater — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 11:54:13 -0500

I know this question is aimed at criticizing PE DJT because of his unconventional style compared to most all other politicians. But having said that, from a Marine Corps perspective, the question is so self-evidently 'YES' as to preclude discussion. However, professionalism is not best personified by the PC, ticket punching, inner ring, yes persons example we see so often these days. Chesty Puller, Smedley Butler, Al Gray, George Patton, David Hackworth, Alexander Vandergrift & more recently James Mattis each had their own personality and style, but they focused on 2 things and two things only. Accomplish the mission and take care of your people. All else is admin - in the military, in business and in life in general.
As long as PE Trump does that, he will be a success as president and for the country. All else is superfluous.

Response by SMSgt Matthew Hoyer made Jan 5 at 2017 2:16 PM

SMSgt Matthew Hoyer — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:16:04 -0500

Well, to answer the question asked, yeah i expect professionalism from leaders. The real question here is does this tweet present as unprofessional? He called someone a clown. Generally speaking, i'm not a fan of name calling, because ad hominem attacks are conducted after all logic has failed, but ffs it's just a clown. The part that bothers me the most about his tweet is that he misspelled "led" :)

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2017 2:38 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:38:09 -0500

Would you rather a leader be nice to someone who does not deserve to have people be nice to him/her? Should we have been "nice" to Osama bin Laden? al Zarqawi? Saddam Hussein? Manuel Noriega? Fidel Castro? Che Guevara? Pol Pot? Mao Tse Tung? You get the idea.... Call them what they are. Hillary Clinton allowed 4 Americans to be killed at Benghazi. Should we be nice to her? Jane Fonda went to North Vietnam, praised AAA gun crews shooting down American pilots and crews, and turned-in prisoners at the Hanoi Hilton who tried to pass notes to her. Should we be nice to her? IMHO, F*ck No! Traitors! They'll get no PC touchy-feely hand-holding niceties from me.

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Jan 5 at 2017 2:57 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:57:03 -0500

I don't want my son to act like this, but it is consistent with how "The Donald" has always acted. It's the same Trump that got elected. I do hope that he sees how other world leaders that act the same way have been ignored and even shunned because of this behavior.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jan 5 at 2017 3:54 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 15:54:27 -0500

Yes.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 5 at 2017 5:44 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 17:44:02 -0500

It's frightening when you realize that Trump is the most adult one in DC

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Jan 5 at 2017 8:06 PM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:06:13 -0500

Our military should conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. I do not consider Schumer to be a professional, so clown fits him well

Response by Cpl Zach Wellborn made Jan 6 at 2017 2:32 AM

Cpl Zach Wellborn — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 02:32:58 -0500

Professionalism to me is walking into a room where no one knows you and establishing yourself as a leader or influence. I've seen several higher ranking Marines master this. They could walk into a room or a crowd and get the attention of everyone. What I learned from them was this: Your appearance and language must relate to your audience. If it's business suit and tie yes sir no sir. If it's a bunch of vets it's jeans and a hoody what's up fuckers. Make anyone laugh and they get comfortable. Profession is the key because it directly relates to the job, job title and audience

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Jan 6 at 2017 11:50 AM

SFC J Fullerton — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 11:50:43 -0500

He is just feeding his "supporters" this rhetoric on Twitter because it is what they want to hear. That is not leadership, its just acting and showmanship to please a certain group for the sake of his own ego. I don't buy it and never did.

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Jan 6 at 2017 11:02 PM

SSG Mark Franzen — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 23:02:13 -0500

You are the Head clown trying to look big But your Not so Get off Schumer. look at you your not judge people and so watch what you say about democrats be they have to approve your cabinet so watch self.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2017 11:47 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 23:47:28 -0500

Is this a trick question? Obvious answer if you're referring to military is yes. Best case is that we should hope for professionalism from all leaders, whether public, corporate, military or whatever category. In the private sector the emphasis is often on management vice leadership, but even a manager should be professional. It's off topic but I'll take a leader over a manager any day, but that's just me. Not sure what you're asking but am guessing your inferring that PEOTUS Trump has room for improvement. I'll abstain except to say that we all could stand improvement. If you so believe, the last perfect man died on a cross. Regardless of any personal feelings we may have about Mr. Trump we at least owe him the opportunity to serve before making judgement. He has told everyone up front that he's not a career politician and many took this into consideration with their vote. Time will tell about his effectiveness so maybe we should have a wait and see attitude. If he fails miserably or steps outside the boundaries of office there are remedies for that. I prefer to just remain hopeful but also aware of the challenges we face, and maybe things will work out in due course.

Response by MSG Frederick Otero made Feb 14 at 2017 9:22 AM

MSG Frederick Otero — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:22:22 -0500

The short answer is yes but with generals falling by the wayside one wonders who sets the standard these days for professionalism in the military, that senior leaders are so ethically challenged cannot bode well for a professional standard within the military.

Response by MSG Frederick Otero made Feb 15 at 2017 12:40 PM

MSG Frederick Otero — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 12:40:20 -0500

General Harold Moore (RIP) a true professional, take note people.